Despite the urgent need to replace South Africa’s green ID book due to security risks, the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) won’t be able to phase it out soon. Introduced in 1955, the green ID book has become highly vulnerable to damage and fraud over time. “These paper-based documents are highly susceptible to physical damage, becoming easily worn, torn, or otherwise compromised over time,” said iiDENTiFii cloud engineer Tertius Wait. This makes the documents “unreliable for secure identification.”
In 2013, the government announced plans to replace the green ID book with the more secure smart ID card. However, the rollout has been slow, with only 204 of the DHA’s 323 offices equipped with the live capture system required to process the cards. At the current pace of modernization, it could take another six to seven years to upgrade all offices.
The DHA has issued about 26 million smart ID cards, far short of its 37 million target. This delay has allowed the green ID book to remain in use. According to Wait, “Identity thieves are keenly aware of these flaws,” and the DHA blocked over 700,000 suspicious ID books due to fraud and forgery concerns.
Despite setbacks, there are signs of progress. The DHA recently cleared a backlog of 250,000 ID applications in just a month, doubling its output during that period. Additionally, mobile offices equipped with live capture systems are reaching remote areas, and public-private partnerships with banks are expected to expand the system’s reach. For now, the green ID book remains a valid form of identification for those turning 16 or replacing lost IDs, but change is on the horizon.
By Sibongile Sokela
